"O. Sami Saydjari" wrote:

As I was coming into Grand Rapids (KGRR) yesterday, the controller
announced that there was a "level 5" return (or perhaps she said "cell")
on final to runway 8, so I was vectored to 35 where there were mostly
"just level 4" stuff. So, forgive my ignorance, but where are these
levels defined? I assume they have to do with what sort of radar return
they get off a cloud and therefore has to do with rain intensity. Does
a level 5 return imply that a thunderstorm is likely to be generating it?

Also, I have a GDL-49 Satellite Data Link Transceiver linked to my
Garmin 430 display. I understand (and now have seen) that these things
just are not adequate to locate big cells. Rather, they show large
areas of showers. Are these based on satellite imagery, or from
aggregated ground station data or what?

Also, how to the radar levels (1 thru 6?) relate to the colors shown on
a GDL-49 display on a Garmin 430? Does red equal level 5 or level 6? I
think only have red, yellow and green...so it seems there are not
enough colors to show 6 levels.

-Sami, N2057M, Piper Turbo Arrow III

You might try checking the AIM, for starters. Then, perhaps, the IHB.